A Contenders Confidential: Panini America Unveils 2015 Contenders Football RCs

For many of the most dedicated football card collectors on the planet, this glorious opening weekend of the 2015 NFL season is a time you’ve been eagerly anticipating for months. It’s a weekend that, in hindsight, might be remembered as something of Christmas in September. It’s the time, after all, that we unveil the new Rookie Card designs for Panini America’s 2015 Contenders Football.

One of the most important and revered football brands in NFL trading card history turns 23 this season, carrying with it another splendid rendition of the landmark Rookie Ticket design, more of those coveted photo variations and a plethora of parallels.

One of the most pressing questions regarding any new Contenders Rookie Ticket design is a simple one: Vertical or horizontal? In the decorated 17-year history of Contenders’ autographed Rookie Tickets, the cards have sported a vertically oriented design 13 times, with just 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2011 featuring a horizontal design.

(Speaking of rookie tickets, the one to have this weekend is the one that lets you watch Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans battle Jameis Winston and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

For 2015, Panini America keeps with the brand’s vertical-format roots on cards that boast crisp action photography, an unmistakable “Ticket” design and subtle foil touches. The ballyhooed Holofoil, Cracked Ice and Championship Ticket parallels return in full force, too. 2015 Contenders Football also includes a new-look Rookie Ink layout.

Without further ado, then, we present your first extended look at the 2015 Contenders Football Rookie Ticket designs. Most of what you’re about to see is unsigned at this point; just know that most of the cards below have already been carefully packaged and are on their way to the biggest rookies in the game for on-card autographs.

Enjoy the gallery and stay tuned to The Knight’s Lance for additional coverage of 2015 Contenders Football.